Western Parks and Market (WPM) Waste Management Limited has assisted 75 retirees of the agency in western Jamaica by providing care packages to help them cope during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Speaking with JIS News, Regional Operations Manager, Garnet Edmondson, said that WPM’s management team donated a portion of their April salaries to undertake the initiative, which amounted to some...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced that community bars will be allowed to reopen conditionally, starting on May 19, for a two-week probationary period. Bars islandwide were ordered closed from March 28, as part of the Government’s measures to prevent and reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Minister, who was speaking at...

Parish Coordinator for Disaster Preparedness at the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Ornella Lewis, says that preparations have started for the 2020 Hurricane Season, which begins on June 1 and runs until November 30.  “Our parish disaster committee has been activated since March 13. We have been looking through our shelter list and some of the challenges that we have been facing,...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Errol Lebert, says the St. Elizabeth Infirmary is working closely with both State and local partners to ensure the continued safety of its residents, amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Speaking with JIS News, Mr. Lebert said that recently, the Municipality, with the support of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Jamaica...

Organisers of the seventh Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean have postponed the event from July to a date to be announced. The announcement was made by Minister of Local Government and Community Development and Chairman of the Planning Committee, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, after discussions with Platform stakeholders and members of the coordinating bodies....

The National Water Commission (NWC) has budgeted $11.46 billion for capital expenditure, to continue water and sewerage infrastructure rehabilitation during the 2020/21 fiscal year. This is being done to improve operational efficiency and service delivery, according to the Jamaica Public Bodies Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending March 2021. The earmarked sum includes $4.77 billion to replace...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is urging consumers to implement water conservation practices, in anticipation of an extended drought period throughout the summer months. As at April 23, the Hermitage Dam was at 79.67 per cent of its capacity, whereas the Mona Reservoir was at 74.3 per cent of its capacity. Corporate Public Relations Manager at the NWC, Andrew Canon,...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is calling on parents and guardians to be vigilant during this time and reduce their use of fire, in an effort to prevent an increase in structural fires. “Right now, we are saying to parents, treat it the same way you would treat the summer holidays or the Christmas holidays. Make sure at all times...

Following the announcement of special containment measures for St. Catherine by the Most Honourable Prime Minister yesterday, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development has implemented heightened sanitary and security protocols for all the facilities in the parish for which it is responsible. INFIRMARY CARE Minister of Local Government and Community Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie says the interests of...